Wheeled gun carriage having divergible trail



E. SCHNEIDER WHEELED .GUN CARRIAGE HAVING DIVERGIBLE TRAIL Filed June 9,1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eyl.

Apr. 17, 1923. 1,451,848

E. SCHNEIDER WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE HAVING DIVERGIBLE TRAIL Filed June 9.1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 11 D i E E 1 |\::J E

1 g1; 1 r I ii: i: l I

Apr. 17, 1923. 1,451,848

E. SCHNEIDER WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE HAVING DIVERGIBLE TRAIL Filed June 9,1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Apr. I7, 1923 E. SCHNEIDER WHEELED GUN CARRIAGEHAVING DIVERGIBLE TRAIL 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 9, 1921 lvwilnarvarlurw Apr. 17, 1923. 1,451,848

5. SCHNEIDER WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE HAVING DIVERGIBLE TRAIL Filed June 9,1921 9 Sheets-Sheet s Apr. 17, 1923.

E. SCHNEIDER WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE HAVING DIVERGIBLE TRAIL Filed June 9,192].

9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Apr. 17,1923.

E. SCHNEIDER WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE HAVING DIVERGIBLE -TRAIL 9Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 9, 19-21 Erin-ll Ill WW 3 \l,

E. SCHNEIDER WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE HAVING DIVERGIBLE TRAIL Apr. 17, 19236Filed June 9, 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Apr. 17,1923.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, or PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOB To SCHNEIDER-& 0111., orPARIS,

FRANCE, a LIMITED JoIn'r-sroc'x conrrnnx or ranncn.

WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE HAVING- DIVERGIBLE TRAIL.

m in guns of the known type, having divergible trails, wherein thetrails carrying the anchoring devices are capable. for firing,

of assuming oblique positions relatively to vthe combined wheeled axleand carriage head in which the gun pedestal (carrying the gun barrel) isadapted to swivel.

The improvements enable the pivotal axis] of the gun pedestal to assumeits vertical position at all. times notwithstanding the transverseinclinations of the wheeled axle or the longitudinal inclinations of thecarriage head. f

For this purpose the swivel pivot pin of the gun pedestal, instead ofbeing mounted directly in the carriage head, is mounted in a gun mountwhich'is pivoted to the carriage head. and upon which the elevatingmechanism of the gun barrel is supported.

The uprighting of the. pivotal axis is pro duced either by a doubletransverse and longitudinal movement of the combined gun mount andelevating, mechanism in the carriage head. or'by a displacement of thegun mount relatively to the carriage head on the one hand, and of thecombinedcarriage head and gun mount relatively to the wheeled axle onthe other hand.

Various practical examples of this in vention are illustrated in theaccompanying 40 drawings in which:

Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive illustrate afirst practical example. a I Fig. 1is a'longitudina-l elevation of the general arrangement.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 aresections on the lines and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 3.

- tive and the carriage head Application filed June 9, 1921. Serial No.476,302.

Fig. 6 is a sectionon the line '6-.-6 of Fig. s

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a longitudinal sectional elevation andcross-section on s the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 of a second practical exampleof the invention;

Figs. 9 and 10 arerespeetively a longitudinal sectional elevation and across-section on the,line1010 of Fig. 9 of a modi fication of theforegoing example; v Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are respectively thelongitudinal sectional elevation, a half cross:

section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11 as regards the righthand halfand'along XIL XII as regards the left-hand half, and a partial sectionon the line 1313-of Fig.12. of another modification of theconstructional example shown in Figs. 7 and 8;

Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively a longi tudmal sectional elevation anda oross-s'ection on the line,15 l5 ofFigflet of a modification oftheforegoing example;

Figs. 16,17 and ,18illustrate another c0-nstructional examplerespectively in longitudinal sectional elevation. transverse section onthe line 17-17 of Fig. 16 and in. horizontal section. on the line 1818of Fig. 16.,

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, the improved gun comprises a wheeled axle,that is to say an axle A and two wheels B. i

The carriage head 0 is fixed to the wheeledv axle for firing.Nevertheless for transport, this carriage head maybe sus: pendedelastically from the wheeled axle by any suitable known means as isassumed in the illustrated exampleit This suspension may comprise for instance. leaf sprines D arranged between the. axle .A. and the carriagehead C, and which can be rendered inoperative by means of snrags Ecarried by screw-threaded rods that are actuated by means of hand wheels6. r

When the sprags occupy the position shown in Fig. 3, the springs D areinopera- C thus bears directly upon the axle A. v The combinationeOnsisting of the two trails F carrying the anchoring device at carriagehead C.

their rear ends, is capable of assuming the oblique position relativelyto the combina tion constituted by the wheeled axle B-rr -13 and thecarriage head C.

This possible obliquity votthe trails relatively to the combined wheeledaxle and carriage head maybe produced by any suitable known means. i y

"In-i't-h'e present CaseL it is. assumed that1.it has been effectedbyithe' means forming th e subjectmatterof the French patent, Schneidera Cie, Nol530656 I The trails'F comprise a front elementF enclosing anobtuse' angle. with the trail body and constructed in the form of a jourmirror which a bearing 0 isprovided in the 1 A 'k111e1'nat,ic connectionis established between thetrail elements F V pivot pin g of theg un'pedestal G, (carrying the barrel) instead of having its ffootstepbearing formed, in "the carriage head C; is situa ted in a gun mount Hwhich is pivoted to the carriage headlC.

v The elevatingmechanism bears upon this gun mount'ashereinafterdescribed. The

i portion o f rectangular section straddles the fpivot 'pin gilnay bereturned into its nornial vertical' position "by reason of the pivotal"mounting of the mount 1H in the carriage; head Q-L bymeans of'twofpinsor two pairs (Sf-journals I and J formed on a hollow axleA passes. H v cThe Itran'sVerseQmeniher K, whose middle wheeledaxle so astojcarry thelatter along with tit, terminates intwo journals I that are movable incorresponding bearings C of the carriagehead.

This same transverse member IQ has two "journals J whose'axis "atrightangle'sto gun mount H to rotate in, suchja manner the 'anis of thejournals ,1, and which are movable 1n the bearings H of the gun mountH.

cassette combined transverse member and as to return theax is of thepivot pin 9 into z vertical plane in the case of a longitudinal-""1n'olin'ationo'f the carriage head C.

The mechanisms that allow joi effecting "these ufirigh tin'g movementsmay be constructed in practice in .various Ways.

' F In the example shown they are constructed as follows I Inthe"@ai'r'iafgehead o, a sine L is g n according to the present invention;the

transverse member K through which the,

by meanso'l an extension L and ribs L The extension L "forms a nut fora'screw lvLjournalcd in the carriage head C and operable by means of agearing mr' m m On the handwheel m being actuated the slide L iscausedto move in the plane of the longitudinal'axis of the carriage head andto'move along wlth 1t a transverse screw N- which is ournaled in thesaid slide. .1 v H On this screw there worksa nut .O which can be.moved'by, actuating the hand wheel a that is lined on an extension ofthe said screw. Them-e 0 engages means of a cylindrical stem o in acollar P furnished withtwopivot'pins p movable in a collar provided withtwo trunnions g, arranged atright' angles to the pivot pins 7 and'.mov-

heath the gun vmount vH.

- Ass'umi gthat the wheeledaxle A 'is in- 'clined transversely whenthegun is moved into battery position orits inclination has become alteredduring the firingyand on the a other hand that the carriage head C hastimed a varying: inclination of the longiftudinal' dir' eetionfthen bysuitably actuating fthehandwheels, mand n it will be possible to returnthe axis of theswivel pin 9' ofthe gun pedestall always'into thevertical poi r v i i i i 95 By'actu'ating wane gun meant H iscarsition..i

ie'd round by thestem o and is caused toin such a manner "a's'to'correct the transjverse inclination that can be assumed by the axis ofthe, swivel pin 13y actuating the hand wheel m there are moved by meansof the slide L, the nut ,abl 'in bearings 7e, projecting-from under-'re'volvefaround the ,axis of the journals J I L and the gun 'mountHfand this latter" moves the transverse memberi K which, by means of.its journals. I turns JII the bearings C ofthe ,ca'rriageliead, whilstthe journal of the wheeled axle A turns in the wheels B.

The hereinbefore described j; apparatus is combined with a spe'clalconstruction of the elevating mechanism the latter being whollysupportedfby the movable gun. mount.

The mechanism in the illustratedexample comprises in the knownmanner'toothed sectorsR finedto the'gun cairiage'ciradle S.

Motion is transmitted to these {sectors (for el-evati m or de ressinethecradle ,b means b a i y of pinions fixed on ashaft it which isjournalle d in a bracket U Getting a pivot pin u whose axis is situatedin the prolongation of the axis of the swivel pin ,9 of the gunpedestal. A footstepbearing H for/this pivot pin u,"is formed-in thegunmount The bracket U forms in its turn a footstep bearing for a shaft.Vjon which is fixed a worm V meshing with a worm wheel T fixed on "theshaftlt. The shaft V ispextended upwardly; to Work in a recess-in the vswivel P l R f/ and tfcarries bevelplnion v which can be actuated bymeans ofa gearin -v v -o carried by the gun pedestal.

ince the bracket U is to share'in the movement of the gun pedestal G inthe trainingmovements of the gun, it is engaged by means of a squarecollar U upon a correspondingly shaped collar 9 of the swivel pin 9.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and S, as in the precedingexample, the swivel pin 9 of the gun pedestal G is mounted in a gunmount H. This latter is pivoted directly by means of journals I inbearings C of the carriage head in such a manner as to be able toassume, relatively to the latter, avarying longitudinal inclination thatwill enable the axis of the swivel pin 9 to be returned into a verticalplane, irrespectively of the longitudinal inclination that is assumed bythe carriage head C in firing.

On the other hand, the combined carriage head C" and gun mount H arecapable, in the case of a transverse inclination of the wheeled axle A,of being operated relatively to the latterfor the purpose of returningthe axis of the swivel pin 9 into the vertical.

For this purpose the wheeled axle A is provided with two laterallyprojecting journals J engaged in bearings C of the carriage head C.

The uprighting of the swivel pin of the gun pedestal by the rotation ofthe journals 1, is produced by actuating a hand wheel m which act-uatesthrough a gearing m 2-, a long screw M journalled in the carriage headC. The rotation of this screw causes the movement of a nut L which isengaged by means of pins L in bearings formed underneath the gun mountH.

The operating of the combined carriage head C and gun mount H around thejournals J. is produced by the actuation of a worm' /V whose spindle Wprovided with an actuating hand wheel it, is journa led in the carriagehead C. The screw mesh-es with helically toothed sector X fixed onone'oi the journals J.

The movement of the screw on the fixed sector X causes the carriage headC to turn in such a manner that the gun mount H and the gun pedestal Grcarried by it shall be caused to share in this movement.

The elevating mechanism comprises, as in the preceding example, toothedsectors R fixed to the gun carriage cradle S, and to which motion istransmitted through pinions T fixed on a shaft t. This shaft isjournalled in a bracket U carrying a pivot pin 14 whose axis is situatedin the prolongation of the axis of the swivel pin 9 of the gun pedestal.A. gearing ;o 22 '21 o transmits the motion through a shaft V mounted inan axial recess of the swive pin 0 and carrying a worm by which themotion is transmitted to a helical. wheel T fixed on the shaft 25.

wheeled axle.

This elevating mechanism bears, as will slides H working on arc-shapedribs having their centre on the pivotal axis.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 1'1, 12 and 13, the pivot forthe transverse uprighting of the combined carriage head C and the gunmount H carrying the gun pedestal G, is constituted by a removable axleJ which extends through the wheeled axle A and two frame plates of thecarriage head C.

The removability of the rocking axle J allows of providing an elasticsuspension for the road wheels between the carriage head C and the axleA. This suspension may, for instance, compriseleaf springs D whosebuckle D may be suspended by means of links (Z and blocks a fixedto theaxle A,

whilst the main. leaf is pivoted by shackles to the carriage head C.

For firing, the links al are unhooked and the axle J is placed inposition. I

The pivotal motion of the combined car- G around. the axle J maylie-produced, as shown in Fig.'11, by moving the carriage head C bymeans of a nut y, formedon the actuating hand wheel Y andiworked on ascrew-threaded rod Y jointed at e to the For transport, it it be desiredto bring the elastic suspension into operation, the combined nut fl/ andscrew Y is turned down into the position indicated in dot and dash lines(Fig. 12), thus disengaging the nut from the notch 0 formed in thecarriage head wherein the'said nut was held by its end collars. v

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 14

and 15. the elastic suspension between thecarriage head C and thewheeled axle 'A is constituted by a leaf spring D arranged in thelongitudinal axial plane of the wheeled. axle. The buckle D of thisspring is'here fixed to two frame plates D pivotedon pins C proiectinginternally from the bearings of the pin J.

For transport, inthis .case it is sufficient to withdraw the pin J andtot'urn'down'the actuating hand wheel Y, whereas to render thesuspension inoperative it is sutlicient to reinsert the pin J.

Inthe constructionalform illustrated in F gs. 16,17 and 1R,the' gunmount H in wh ch the sw vel pin 1 of the gun pedestal G is mounted, hastwo laterally projecting riage head, gun mount H and gnn pedestal Itrunnions I, by means ofwhich itis journalled inthe carriage head forthe purblock A in an arcshaped slotted guide Ci of the carriage head,-the trunnions I. 2 v y The. pivotal movement of the gun mount"l-l'forthe purpose of longitudinal uprighu neither is the elevatingmechanism.

gards the uprighting movement in the transing, is produced by a meanswhich is identical'to that indicated in the example illustrated in Figs.7 and 8.

The uprighting mechanism is not shown,

As reverse direction of the combined carriage head C and gun mount H, itisproduced by actuating in the direction corresponding to that of theinclination, screw-jacks pivoted between the carriage head and thewheeled axle section. These screw-j acks compriseior each wheeled axlesection a screw-threaded rod Z which is pivoted at its upper end to thecorrespondingsection of theaxle A, and works in a nut Z that is capableof turning in the carriage head 0-.

Rotational motion can be imparted to the nuts Z so as to causethem toturnin opposite directions to each other. For this purpose'bevel teethare formed'on these nuts, meshing with bevel pinions Z fixed on the endsvot' the shaft Z Motion is imparted to the shaft Z by' means of a pinionZ which-meshes with one of the pinions Z and which is fixed on a shaft Zoperable by means of a hand wheel Z and journalledin the carriage headC.

For transport an elastic suspension may be provided between the axlesections A and the carriage head C. by-means of a leaf spring D whosebuckle D 'is formed in the carriage head. the main leaf of the springbeing hung by means of shackles D from v the axle sections A, When it isdesired to render the elastiosuspension operative, 1t 1s of coursenecessary to undo the coupling between the screws Z and the wheeled axlesections.

' 1. In a wheeled gun mounting provided with an axle, a carriage mountedon said axle a n'd'movable relative thereto, a gun mount pivotallvsupported by said car riage, a gunpedestalsupported by said gun mount,gun elevating'means carried by'sa'id gunmount means to turn said mountin a plane'at right angles to said axle, together 'Eaohsection of thewheeled axle B-dU-A is guided by means of a slide centered on the axisof 1 mount'in a plane at right angles to said With -means for turningthe mount in a plane parallel to said axle.

2.'In a wheeled gun mounting provided with an axle, a carriage mountedon said axle and movablerelative thereto a pair of divergible. trailspivotally secured' to said carriage, a gun mount pivotally. supported bysaid carriage, a gunpedestal supported by said gun mount, means to turnsaid mount in a'planeat right angles to said axle, means for turning themount in a plane parallel to said axle, and gun elevating means carriedby said mount.

3. In a wheeled gun mounting provided with an axle, a carriage mountedon said axle and movable relative thereto a pair of 'dive'rgible trailspivotally secured to said carriage belowthe horizontal plane of saidaxle, a gun mount pivotally supported by said carriage, a gun pedestalsupported by said gun mount, means to turn said mount in a plane atright angles to said axle, means for turning the mount in a planeparallel to said-axle, and an elevating mechanism carried by said mountand adapted to turn therewit i 4. In a wheeled gun mounting provid withan axle, a carriage mounted on said axle and movable relative theretogun-elevating means carried by said gun mount, an elastic suspensionbetween the carriage and said axle, a gun mount pivotally supported bysaid carriage, a gun pedestal supported by said gun mount, and means toturn said mount in a plane'at right angles to said axle.

5. In a wheeled gun mounting provided with an axle, a carriage mountedon said axle and movable relative thereto, an elastic suspension betweenthe carriage and said axle, a gun mount pivota1ly supported by saidcarriage, a gun pedestal supported by said gun mount, gun-elevatingmeans carried by said gun mount, means to turn said axle, together withmeans for turning the mount in a plane parallel to said axle.

6. In a wheeled gun mounting provided with an axle, a carriage mountedon said axle and movable relative thereto, an elastic, suspensionbetween the carriage and said axle, means for rendering said suspensioninoperative, a gun mount pivotally; supported by said car 'iage, a gunpedestal'supported by said gun mount, gun-elevating means carried bysaid gun mount, and means to turn said mount in a plane at right anglesto said axle. v

7. In a wheeled gunmounting provided with an axle,-a carriage movablymounted thereon, divergible trails pivotally secured to said carriage, agun mount pivotally supported by said carriage, a gun pedemal supablymounted in said pedestal, a worm can ried by said last-named shaft andadapted to mesh with said worm wheel, and means for moving saidlast-named shaft.

. 9 In a wheeled gun mounting provided with an axle, a carriage mountedon said axle for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the same, a gunmount pivotally supported by said carriage to turn on an axis at rightangles to said axle, and a gun pedestal supported bysaid gun mount.

10. In a wheeled gun mounting provided withan axle, a gun pedestalmounted to turn in a plane parallel to said axle, a cab riage supportingsaid pedestal and mounted to turn around the axle ina plane transversethereto, and means for imparting said turning movements to said carriageand pedestal 11. A wheeled gun mounting comprising an axle, a carriagemounted on said axle, a hollow member through whlch said axle passes, agun inountmovably supported by said hollow member, means for rotatingsaid mount transversely of'said carriage, and

means for rotating said mount longitudi nally of said carriage.

12. A wheeled gun'mounting comprising an axle, a carriage mountedv onsaid axle, divergible trails niovably secured to said carriage, a hollowmember through which said axle passes, a gun mount movably supported bysaidhollow member, means for rotating said mount transversely of saidcarriage, and means for rotating said mount longitudinally of saidcarriage.

13. A Wheeled gun mounting comprising an axle, a carriage mounted onsaid axle, an elastic suspension between said axle and the carriage,meansto render said suspension inoperative, a hollow member'throughwhich said axle passes, a gun mount movably supported by said hollowmember,

means for rotating said mount transversely of said carnage, and meansfor rotating said mount longitudinally of said carriage.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

v EUGENE SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses:

AN RE 'MOSTICKER, LOUIS GARDET.

